Kingdom Plantae Family Lamiaceae Scientific name Thymus pseudolanuginosus Rank Species | Order Lamiales Genus Thymus Higher classification Thymes | |
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Similar Thymes, Mother‑of‑Thyme, Lamiaceae, Thymus citriodorus, Caraway Thyme | ||
Thymus pseudolanuginosus - commonly called woolly thyme - is now also classified as Thymus praecox subsp. britannicus. It was also formerly known as Thymus lanuginosus.
Description
This low-growing creeping thyme with hairy or woolly leaves and stems, can be quite difficult to delineate between other hairy and non-hairy creeping thymes. It is of unknown specific origin in southern Europe.
The leaves in wild creeping thyme vary from slightly glabrous (smooth) to sparsely covered in white hairs, or thickly covered on both surfaces, with the margins ciliate (hairy), or just ciliate at the base. Leaf hairiness could be an adaptation to climatic conditions, particularly in mountainous regions.
Thymus pseudolanuginosus is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is often grown as a groundcover, where it can form extensive low mats. It is also used in rock gardens.